Monday, 17 August 2026Europe · Analysis
Independent · Brussels & Berlin
Person
US Secretary of Defense, US Department of Defense
The US president travels to Turkey expecting concrete plans from European members after last year's Hague agreement, while his administration reviews force posture in Europe and feuds with several allied leaders.
Former NATO chief argues Ukraine is now Europe's strongest military power and should be integrated into a new security architecture led by France and Britain, ahead of a critical NATO summit in Ankara.
The US president called the alliance a 'paper tiger' in a Telegraph interview, while Hungary blocks a €90 billion Ukraine loan and European capitals assess whether Article 5 deterrence has already collapsed.
The White House document names immigration, birth rates and 'censorship' as threats to civilisation, urging support for patriotic parties across the continent before key votes in Germany, Britain and possibly France.
From Honduras to Brussels, the US president is treating foreign policy as an extension of domestic culture war, backing right-wing candidates, attacking EU climate laws and funding conservative networks across the continent.
Central and eastern European states are accelerating defence industrial conversion while pressing Washington for concrete security guarantees, fearing a negotiated Ukraine settlement could leave them exposed.
Five months into Donald Trump's return, the US has abandoned indivisible security, imposed sweeping tariffs and launched a political offensive against European values, forcing allies to coordinate a response before July tariff deadlines.
EU foreign policy chief says US pressure is 'better than no love' as European countries formally approve landmark military spending plan while defence commissioner warns of looming transatlantic split.
A series of shocks in February 2025 forced European leaders to confront the possibility that Washington is no longer a reliable partner, triggering frantic diplomacy and a scramble for strategic autonomy.
Alexander Stubb argues Europe needs a single negotiating figure while defending Finland's defence contributions against US criticism of freeloading.
European leaders meeting in London pledged to build security guarantees for Ukraine after Trump ruled out US commitments, but the military and financial gap left by Washington is vast.
British Army at 70,000 regulars; Russia spends 6.7% of GDP on defence. European leaders meet this weekend to decide whether to deploy up to 30,000 troops without American security guarantees.
Pete Hegseth says Washington will no longer be primarily focused on European security, rules out NATO membership for Ukraine and demands allies double defence budgets.
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